if you are taking off work to celebrate throughout the day. or even later this afternoon and this evening, just be careful. and find your sea of designated driver. let's check -- yourself -- can -- yourself a designated driver. >> reporter: it's early but you will find all lanes are open around the beltway and traffic is moving at a nice pace. light volume. no major issues this early on the st. patrick's day. 695 at providence road, no major issues around the baltimore beltway. everything is all clear many we don't have any problems, accidents or incidents right now. now back to you. >> thanks. the u.s.-our peen officials -- and european officials are using terrifies words, deer tier ating and apocalypse. president obama says americans will be flown out of the country and we are learning the desperate measures such as dropping water on the reactors are being done at the

insistence of the united states. hundreds of thousands of japanese evacuees are jammed into shelters with little or no food and medicine. >> and within the next few hours a. young woman from howard county will begin a long trek home from japan. we met danielle jakors friday. she is a student at the towson university spending her senior year on an exchange program. she was in a class at to beingo international university friday when the quake hit. more than 6,000 miles away in columbia, her mother was in bed. >> i remember the clock it was 1:47 a.m. when she called me and then i've been up probably ever since. >> no doubt about that. university in toning yoke -- tokyo canceled -- in tokyo canceled the rest of the committer. her host family can't spare the gas to drive her to the airport and she is walking to a train station with her luggage and taking the train to the

university and catch a bus to the airport. that part of the trip alone will take at least three hours on a good day. right now in japan, then tens of -- tens of thousands are trying to get out and headed in the same direction many we will keep you posted on her progress. you can find out more about what's going on in japan by going to abc2news.com for latest developments on the aftermath of this quake and tsunami as well as what's going on with the nuclear reactor. a special section including the photo slide show and eyewitness accounts under the spotlight section on the right side of the home page. traffic heads up for you if you plan to celebrate st. patrick's day. canton o'donnell square will be blocked off to traffic starting at 7 this morning through 7 saturday morning. so it's a long st. patrick's celebration. o'donnell street will be closed in both directions from linwood to potomac. south curler and south strepper streets will be closed and park

-- strepper-- streeper street will be closed as well. >> it may not be tonight. for many of us, the celebration of st. patrick's day will kick off later this afternoon. a few pints with friends and a safe ride home for a good night's rest. but for those committed to the cause, today some bars are opening very early. sherrie johnson is live with a jump on the beginning of the celebration day. sherrie. >> reporter: charlee, we are here at the -- charley we are here in fells point where the party will soon kick off. it's quiet right now but at 6 a.m. the place opens up and that's when a number of people will file in to celebrate st. patty's day. and it's not all about just celebrating. there's also a good cause going on here at this pub. you know, it's all about this, the guinness here. for every pint that they sell, they dote in a dollar to the earthquake victims in -- they

donate a dollar to the earthquake victims in japan. dave joins me right now. tell me what it means for you. >> for one thing week make good money. that's the main -- thing, we make good money. that's the main point. we are giving a dollar for every pint of guinness going to the japan fund, the american red cross. st. patty's day he made us from pegans into christians and there we go. >> reporter: we are expecting a packed house. we talked earlier. some people may head here and go to mass. >> yes. normally we won't talk to the mothers, but normally get here at 8 and go to mass:30. >> reporter: a lot of good fun. we will talk to you and other folks throughout the morning here. thanks so much, dave. so, there you have it. they have a lot of specials going on. thr donating to a good cause. -- they are donating to a good cause. you have to come out and

celebrate. but if you drink, make sure you don't drive. reporting live in fells point, sherrie johnson. to that tipsy taxi will be made available to make sure you don't get behind the wheel if you have been drinking. from 4 a.m. this afternoon to 4tomorrow you can get a free ride home. they are available if you've been drinking at baltimore city bar or a baltimore city restaurant. remember to call the 877-963- taxi. again, 877-963-8294. five minutes after five. and just a couple -- in just a couple hours, the crew of the usns comfort will ship out. the hospital ship is setting sail for a five-month humanitarian mission. linda so joins us live from the canton pier to tell us more about the mission. linda, good morning. >> reporter: hey, megan, they are planning to leave at seven this morning. you can see the ship here. it's massive. and they are going to set sail

for this five-month humanitarian mission. joining us is chief doolittle to tell us more about what they will be doing. can you tell us where you are going and what the main mission is. >> nine different countries in the southern caribbean and our goal is to provide medical and dental and veterinary care. >> reporter: so, this is a five- month mission. you will be away for a long time. >> yes. we are. we are -- it's five-month mission. we are looking forward to about ten days for port calls. we are looking forward to it. >> reporter: okay. wonderful. i understand you were in haiti last year when the disaster struck, the earthquake there, and you saw firsthand the need of the people. you guys are a hospital basically on water. >> yes. >> reporter: and you provide the care that they need. what was it like being in haiti last year? >> it was an eye opening experience to see the need that was there and to be able to right the need very quickly.

and then be able to watch not only that my sailors and head them experience that as far as to provide hands on patient care, and immediate need. >> reporter: what does it mean to go back a year and a half later to see how they are doing and provide more care? >> it is a great way to help and provide ativitiance where need. >> reporter: thanks for joining us and good luck on your mission i know you will do a great job. >> thanks so much. >> reporter: 7:00 this morning is when they will be leaving. they have a stop in norfolk and pick up more personnel. basically, going on the humanitarian trip that will last five months to central and south america and the caribbean and going back to haiti. so a neat thing they will see there. linda so, abc2 news. >> sen minutes after five right now. okay -- seven minutes after five right now. >> just ahead who's moving into

the only mall in baltimore city. >> and how much would you pay for a nugget? someone shelled out big bucks for this baby, but it's gold and it is 7 pounds. details when we come back. >> off to a break. hike pictures of atlanta. temperatures -- live pictures of atlanta. temperatures expected to reach in the 70s there today. ♪ you're unpacking already? yeah. help me find some mugs? sure. ♪ [ beep ] hey. okay. -these'll do. -yeah. [ male announcer ] wake up to the mountain grown aroma of folgers. ♪ the best part of wakin' up so, where do you want to start? i think this is a pretty good place. ♪ is folgers in your cup

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3q

graduating medical school students today at university of maryland and johns hopkins unanimous at this may feel the butterflies in their stop being a morning because it's match -- in their stomach this morning because it's match day. you will have a new place to shop a new marshall's opens in mondawmin mall. grand opening is set for 8 this morning. the mayor is scheduled to speak at that grand opening. now, maryland's most powerful doppler radar and the forecast certified most accurate by weatherate. >> 5:11. irish eyes will be smiling upon

maryland today. we get a nice boost on temperatures and nice push of sunshine and we have ourselves a look at temperatures today. today in the mid-60s. we are looking at basically conditions that will be spring like with a little change for the weekend. and you know what? the irish is well aware of the rain in their weather outlook. so, maybe we will get a taste of that this weekend. we are looking dry at maryland's most powerful doppler radar. look around the roads, the irish say let's the roads rise to meet you. let's see what kim brown has. >> reporter: as the road rise to meet you, they will be telling you something very good. as we look live at 95, just north of white marsh boulevard, traffic is off to a very smooth start. no reported problems. all smooth between mountain road towards 695 and heading towards the tunnels. hooking at the maps, no propertyed -- reported problems

on the jfx or i-70 core door. things are all clear. now back to you. >> thanks a lot. the 7-pound gold nugget was augusted off in sacramento, -- was auctioned off in sacramento, california. it was found in nevada county in california. that's a big chunk of gold. all right. well, maybe you can hit the jackpot and get the gold. something you will probably see in las vegas at their airport. >> it could be coming to maryland and closer and sooner than you think. what law makers are considering to help you pass the time now at bwi. also ahead this morning, charlie sheen bringing the rant to a city near you. where you can cap his torpedo of truth tour or you can throw the money on the floor and burn it.

time 5:16. welcome back. you can have another option to pass the time while waiting for a flight. law makers are considering a move to allow slot machines at bwi airport.

before you consider going to the airport to presh pressure luck, -- pressure luck, its only for those who have gone through the security. they are the one that is can play. >> i thought maybe we could get some revenue when people are leaving our state. they would be behind the check in point so therefore people couldn't come in and out from the public, but, it gives you something to do while waiting to leave the airport. >> lawmakers were not just talking about the slot machines. another measure would allow people to hold slot licenses to have gable tables many no word which tables would be approved. now, maryland's most powerful doppler radar and the forecast certified most accurate by weatherate. >> 5:17. a little green on the screen this morning. 41 right now in baltimore. compared to 51 down towards norfolk compared to 30s back towards the west. fairly uniformed conditions across the area.

we are clear and quiet and we are a little bit above normal. that is going to set the stage for where we will be as a storm system pulls out into the atlantic. we have a drying trend. we have to look northwest where you will find rain and a little mix across the border. but most of this we rain in through central cannedda looking at a -- canada, look at a storm system pulling in colder air. tomorrow afternoon the winds will be kicked up and a small chance of showers. we are streaming in warmer conditions and we expect to have more sun today. cloud tomorrow with that front. it will bring an end to the preseason heat wave. not record territory but we will look at a nice setup. there's the frontal boundary passing tomorrow. you will notice looks like another round of moisture. and that is going to be the change for our weekend. unfortunately trying to hang onto a fully nice dry weather pattern is going to be toughch one wringle may be on saturday with a chance more clouds and showers as we transition back

close to the normal. four above normal today. much more sun and we warm up to about 65. our two degree guaranteed high. clear to partly cloudy. back towards the 50s and 50s should be this evening. we should settle into the 40s. that's just going to be an evening outlook for many of you celebrating tonight. now tomorrow, we spec to jump higher. and an extension of the weekend. you may want to take plans outdoors. partly cloudy skies. a breeze will kick up. we could look at 20 to 30-mile- per-hour winds that's going to help us to go to 76. we will talk about the weekend outlook in just a moment. right now let's see what's happening on the roads with kim brown. >> reporter: thanks. we could see volume lighter than normal because i have a feeling some people are going to take the day off. so as we look live here is 895 south of the 95 split. very light volume. traffic is moving very well heading towards the harbor tunnel. no issues approaching the fort mchenry toll plaza. no incidents but the close -- accidents but the closure

starting at 7:00. o'donnell street closed between linwood and a-- poe toka until -- potomac until early saturday morning. birthday time. jordan turns 2. she is fun- loving ball of fire and lots of love from mom and dad and tasha and jovon pop and rodney and bigis is. >> happy birthday. and time for the picture of the day. here we go. owner april brown from glen burnie sent in this picture of snoockams. and jane sent in this picture of her 5-year-old jack russell terrier named pinky. dressed up for st. patrick's day. she is sending everyone a happy st. patrick's day wish. >> if you have a interesting photo to share, the e-mail address is morning show at wmar.com. send all the information so we

can get the information right. >> we had a cat named snooky- wooky. this morning, an interview with tiger woods. >> more than a year after the public affair e. talks about how he changed his life and trying to change his golf game with robin roberts. >> is it that you are -- what is important has changed or you have found the balance that you've been striving to find? >> i think i am more present with my kids. and that's important because to be with them each and every time i am with them and feel that and be connected to them, and to see their joys on their faces where it's sam dancing and creating things and rearranging furniture and all that stuff. >> that's a bit of what you will hear this morning on "good morning america" at seven. robin roberts sits down with tiger woods. a chance for you to buy a piece of rock and roll history.

buses springstein first -- bruce springstein's first car is up for grabs. he is said to have written his hit "born to run in that car. it takes place october 16th at gotta have it store this new york. >> that's a cool looking car. more chances to see charlie sheen live. he is adding five more dates to his tour. he is going to be taking the stage in new york, boston and has two dates booked in ohio. tickets go on sale today but you will have to act fast because the first two shows sold out in a matter of minutes in detroit and chicago. >> no. >> who are the people? >> no. we have heard about the dangers of smoking, but it can be very tough quitting. >> coming, we will tell you about a new iphone app that is developed by a scientist to help you kick the habit. >> reporter: today is my 57 birthday and i decided before i am 60 something has to change. >> one woman says she has had enough. she wants something done about

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welcome back. a disturbing story out of baltimore county where a man is facing charges accuseded of setting his mother on fire. yesterday morning, crews were called to the home of an east baltimore street in eastview near north point. they found a woman outside badly burned who told police her son set her on fire in a bedroom. the victim is still in the hospital. baltimore mayor stephanie rawlings-blake speaking out this morning after being criticized over approving more than 900,000 dollars in grants for johns hopkins for. her husband works with johns hop kens community physicians. the mayor says none of her votes had anything to do with the program her husband works with. >> let me be clear, not one single routine item that was approved by the board of estimates since december has had anything to do with my husband's job. not anything. >> she with the city solicitor is look into whether the

husband's position means that she would abstain from voting with hopkins. now, maryland's most powerful doppler radar and the forecast certified most accurate by weatherate. >> a look at the extended forecast shows a beautiful st. patrick's day. 30s and 40s but we will get up to 65 this afternoon. you can't plan for much better weather than this in the middle of march or can we? tomorrow, turning breezy, but it will be turning warmer, aiming for high of 76. there could be a late day evening shower and more clouds and showers possible on saturday. 56. we will match the number but clear it out with more sun on sunday also 56. upper 50s and low 60s with the next storm arriving with showers and a thunderstorm monday and tuesday. a steadier rain and falling temperatures wednesday. look out extended outlook. it does have wintery mix by the end of next week. >> all right. thanks a lot. itunes changing

thepurchasing policy and a a could -- app could help smokers kick the habit. >> reporter: good now is for parents experiencing itune sticker shock. apple requiring users to reenter passwords when making in-game purchases. it is hoped this it will prevent kids from buying goods while playing goods on their parents iphones and i pads. original programming may be coming to netflix. the service is reportedly in talks to acquire a new tv series starring kevin spacey and directed by the social network david fincher. it would be the first time a program would be streamed on netflix before being seen anywhere else. and this's an app for everything. now smokers have one that can help them quit. canadian scientists developed it to encourage users to find and crush virtual cigarettes over a 12-week period. it's available for 5 dollars in

a itunes store. those are your tech bites, i am peggy bunker.